The every year Snow thread

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I know every year someone posts a thread about the trials and tribulations of going to work in a snow storm. After 10 years in nursing I still dread the snow. Usually my hubby takes me to work and picks me up in snow storms. Now that we have a little one who is 1 year old those days are long gone. So now I have to decide on what I'm going to do this weekend when we are expected to get 8 to 10 inches Friday into Saturday. Do I book a hotel now close to work? Do I make arrangements the night before the storm to spend the night at work for my day shift the next day? Or do I just try my luck in the AM getting to work in one piece? Gah. My dream is to eventually convince hubby to move to an location where snow is rare or minimum. A girl can dream .

Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.

I'm deep into a COPS marathon. I just have a knack for liking piss poor TV.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I'm expected to get to work tomorrow afternoon, which is a 12 mile commute down the highway mostly. I parked my car at my friend's neighbor's driveway on a snow emergency route which is a normally 10 minute walk from my house. Early last week they were predicting about 1 foot of snow. That has changed to 2 feet. So far, there is about 1.5 feet on the ground with drifts in some places of 4 feet and it is still going strong.

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Specializes in Inpatient Surgery.

It has been a mild winter here in Alaska. We just go to work. It might snow a few feet, it might not. We just go.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I grew up driving in snow and I'm still amazed at how much of a tizzy snow causes. I just drive through it. Take your time and you should get there just fine.

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I grew up driving in snow and I'm still amazed at how much of a tizzy snow causes. I just drive through it. Take your time and you should get there just fine.

A lot of areas have gotten ice in addition to snow. Ice is a totally different thing altogether.

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Specializes in Telemetry.
A lot of areas have gotten ice in addition to snow. Ice is a totally different thing altogether.

Ice with a dusting of snow. *shudder*

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Just curious, I don't live in a snowy area. So if it's too bad except for emergency personnel to be on the road I assume patient's who would otherwise be discharged might stay another day or so right? So a patient who would transfer to a SNF might stay a few more days or a patient going home. Will medicare cover the additional days? Does the hospital eat the cost? I hope the patient's don't have to pay the non-covered days. It's very interesting to hear about this when you don't ever have to deal with it.

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A lot of areas have gotten ice in addition to snow. Ice is a totally different thing altogether.

I drive in snow, too. This was one of the more difficult times.

I still went to work, and my "tizzy" mode was kind of low, but my "crabby" mode was way up there.

:D

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
I drive in snow, too. This was one of the more difficult times.

I still went to work, and my "tizzy" mode was kind of low, but my "crabby" mode was way up there.

:D

I may have to drive future hubster to work in the AM because I A) have the AWD and B) am a better driver. Not looking forward to it even though I know how to do it.

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I stand by my last year statement. I will go in ahead of the storm and stay over if needed IF the hospital will let me sleep in an empty bed between shifts. If not, I'm not coming in. Will not risk my life for a job. If they terminate me, so be it.

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God speed to everyone living on the East Coast.

I am jealous that your hospital sets up cots for those that have to stay. I don't think my hospital would do that. I would just take a gurney in PACU and camp out there, but don't know what I'd do about a shower.

Ours provides a list of hotels that discount for us - often several nurses on separate shifts go in together. the hospital provisions are portions of the OPDs/infusion areas, since most pts were taken care of before the storm if at all possible. Some outpatients are daily with out exception, so usually a limited area of the appropriate clinic is set aside, while a darker quieter clinic is for the nightshifters.

One year, we had back to back storms. Portions of the clinic for staff use were marked for different departments. The facility stocked supplies, had baskets of snacks and toiletries, maps to the bathrooms w/ showers that were available for use. The first night the infusion cubbies (kind of a like a train cubbie, where the pt can lay down or situp, drawer underneath, IV hook, and TV screen and curtain) had the blanket, pillow and a mint as a joke on the pillow. The next night, someone put some plaster packs of OTC benedryl at the desk, for staff use.

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Just got a text to see patients this morning if I want.

Um. NO!

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